And Other Things #1

In the spirit of trying something new, it’s the start of a new series today - And Other Things. I was sitting in the sunroom on Saturday afternoon and thought that I needed somewhere to get my thoughts down, somewhere to share what I’ve been up to during the week. 

So here it is. 

How have you been? I’ve been feeling cast adrift lately and I’m struggling to stay afloat. Clutching on to any sense of normality. School is back, which has been just what the kids needed, to have their routine back. But I’m still not there yet in getting back to work. It’s quiet and so I’m embracing that and enjoying the slower pace while I figure out where the gears are. 

I’m going stir crazy for spring. 

Every morning, I’m out in the garden in tatty slippers and whatever bobbled and misshapen jumper I’ve managed to throw on from a heap on the floor. Desperately willing the tiniest buds to grow just that little bit faster. And they are, slowly. Already the sanguisboras have four or five feathery leaves to show for themselves. I divided their root balls just as they showed signs of life and replanted the other half on the other side of the lawn. Same with the astrantias, whose little white pincushion flowers keep going all summer. The bananas are unwrapped from their recycled duvet beds I used to protect them over winter and are starting to push forth freshly coiled leaves. And I’m mourning the loss of one of the first banana trees I had - it flowered and fruited last summer and it was, as I later discovered, its swan song. But there will always be more pups emerging from the soil, so there’ll be a jungle yet.

A swanky new bee hotel is up on the fence post facing South, ready to host any solitary bees and pollinators that come its way. Of course I picked the most architectural one I could find, made by Dutch garden brand Capi. It’s all completely biodegradable and easy to take apart during winter when it's time to overwinter any of its residents. 

Below that I made a make-shift pea frame from bamboo and twine, ready for the sugar snap pea seedlings to race to the top. I’m hoping there’ll be enough flowering plants here over summer to encourage the bees to nest. 

Good Habits, Learning Danish

Do you Duolingo? I think I’ve been using it on and off with minimal success since 2015 but for the past 46 days I’ve been doing an hour of Danish every day and I love it. I think my foundation in German really helped my understanding of it with lots of similarities but it’s very strange to begin with, when you realise just how many consonants are swallowed! Still, I’m determined to have a basic understanding of it so I can put it to good use when we’re allowed to travel again. Even if the Danish all speak English and put us to shame. 

Jodie’s New Book 

So my friend Jodie Chapman  (and now celebrated published author) wrote an actual book. My copy arrived this morning and I'm wishing away my current read so I can get to it! The last time I went to visit her before the madness of covid, she was working on her second novel from her beautiful office. In fact, I think she's just completed her third! This one is called ‘Another Life’ and has been described as a modern day Romeo & Juliet / Atonement style tragic love story. She’s probably one of the coolest people I know so, you know, buy it now. 

Quiet Beaches and Contemporary Architecture

You can find some of the best examples of contemporary architecture on the Kent stretch of coastline. I almost don’t want to tell you about this beach because it’s so wonderfully quiet. Greatstone. We drove down here last weekend with the kids, knowing it’d be deserted.

There are windswept grassy dunes, shells scattered like jewels on the shoreline and the sand is the finest I’ve ever felt. And then, this house. Clad in larch, just like the house I plan to build in my imagination, complete with sky gazing windows. If you fancy a nose inside it, it was for sale with The Modern House. 

And other things:

I took an online drawing class with artist Lakshmi and LOVED it. 

Chadwick Boseman’s performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will make your heart hurt. Watch on Netflix.

GABA’s meditation podcast is completely bonkers but utterly brilliant. It mixes poetry with music, storytelling and cultural soundbites to create a totally new experience. 

Determined to discover more about my ancestry, genealogist Paul Crooks has been helping me delve deeper into my Guyanese heritage through his online seminars. 

Catch you later,

Tiff x

When Was The Last Time You Did Something Just For You?

Self care is so important for our mental health. Here are my tips for getting out of your head and into nature.

I took this shot on a walk with Rob and the kids just a few days before Christmas 2018. It's a beautiful scene, but I shot it because I took it as a sign that something was very wrong with what I was seeing. Summer blooms and the remains of a rape field. In winter.

Fast forward to 2020 and you really don't need me to recap what a year that was. A moment when our planet and our physical and mental health was in absolute crisis. An unstoppable pandemic swiftly reminded us that we weren't superhuman. Nature sent us messages in the wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes. It showed us what happened when we slowed down in the dolphins that returned to Venice for the first time in a long time. It was our wake-up call.

While I normally like the first post of the year to be a reflection on the last and a plan for what's ahead, this year is a little different. Our mental health will have taken a bashing - being separate from family and friends for so long. Varying degrees of cabin fever setting in. Perhaps you're not feeling yourself. And that's completely understandable. So I say this.

Be kind to yourself.

I'll let you in on something. In 2019 my mental health was possibly in the worst shape I'd ever experienced. I was burnt out with work. Struggling with my identity as a dual heritage woman and dealing with crippling health anxiety brought on by an ear condition. It reached a point where I was composing letters of goodbye to my kids in my head, worrying that I'd suddenly have to leave them behind if what was wrong with me was terminal. I started to think I ought to write letters for each milestone in their lives, just in case. I felt bereft of the Caribbean heritage I missed out on in my childhood and how much of a fraud I felt, brown-skinned and no connection to any of it. I was out of control.

In the latter half of that year, I spent an hour a week with a brilliant black CBT therapist who helped me retrain my thoughts and help rediscover myself. She helped me see that I could relate to my blackness in my own way, that it was just as valid as anyone else's experience. I was stumped when she asked me

"When was the last time you did something just for you?"

And I couldn't answer. I genuinely couldn't remember the last time I did a single thing for myself. Aside from sitting in the bath with the lights out (I still totally recommend that by the way), I'd lost myself in a cycle of work, parenting and daily routine. The proverbial cup was empty.

Self Care Takes Practice.

So, she sent me away with a task for the week. Find one thing to do every day for me. And at first, it was hard. SO bloody hard. But, like anything else, self-care takes practice. Start small if it feels better to. Make a date with yourself for a coffee break. Sit quietly and read for 30 minutes. Start a new skincare routine with gorgeous products just for you. You deserve it.

Self Care Isn't Selfish.

Never feel guilty for taking time out. The number of times I felt I had to explain myself for doing it. Just don't. You don't need to make excuses for buying yourself that lipstick. For ignoring your socials and email. Going on a solo walk. Because if you don't take the time to feed yourself, you can't expect to have anything to give back.

Keep Moving.

Spend some time outside in nature and move your body. Run if that's your bag. Try a fitness app and try to do a ten minute workout a few times a week. Anything that takes you out of yourself, gets you breathing and boosts your mood. Me? I love a good kitchen disco.

Give Yourself A Break.

By this I mean wear the PJs all day. Eat the chocolate. Drink the wine. Watch every single episode of Mad Men back to back. Let the kids play on the ipad that little bit longer. If it means you can stop giving yourself a hard time, do it.

Allow Yourself To Feel.

Every feeling you have is valid. Never tell yourself you're being over the top or too sensitive. Check in with yourself and ask why you think it is you're feeling this way. What would help you to feel better? Cry if you need to. Shout. Sing. The release of emotion is so very important. Which leads me to my last point...

Don't Forget To Ask For Help.

When life gets on top of us it's very easy to close off. We forget to communicate with the people around us and before we know it, we're arguing and misunderstanding each other. So talk. Ask for help if you're feeling overwhelmed. Or reach out for external advice such as NHS Talking Therapies(which I couldn't recommend enough) or Samaritans who have a 27/7 helpline.

I like to think I'm a bit of a pro when it comes to self care now. But it's a constant work in progress. Our needs and circumstances are constantly changing. So, whatever 2021 has in store, try to go with the flow as best you can. And I'm always here if you need a good rant.

Just a side note - I'm completely fine now. My health worries weren't unfounded and having an ENT consultant verify them did the world of good just to feel heard and understood.

Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley.

Foraged Warm And Natural Nordic Christmas Table

Hey, how are you feeling? Honestly? I'm exhausted. And I know I'm not the only one. What a year! Despite all the waves of uncertainty and change we've been riding, I wanted to keep some things the same here. And with Christmas just around the corner, its time to uphold the yearly tradition that I have with you - sharing festive table styling inspiration.

A Foraged Nordic Christmas Table

I wanted the table to feel comforting, intimate. A space that draws the family together under the glow of candlelight. Our gatherings are going to be smaller this year and with this in mind, I'm suggesting using what you have to hand. The key to this Nordic look is the natural elements of rustic bracken fronds, branches and neutral tableware.

My little table for four includes treasures that I return to all year round; a vintage cake stand and a collection of wooden candle holders I found in a charity shop years ago. Simple, pale tableware in some newer additions from the summer are courtesy of Urbanara.

This is a fuss-free, tonal look without a traditional centrepiece. Instead, a hanging installation of 'old man's beard' has become a softer, textural focal point. It that draws the eye down to the table and allows you, your guests and the food to be the centre of attention.

This was my first attempt at a floral cloud installation and it was so easy to do. Rob and I went to take cuttings from a spot where I knew there'd be an abundance of wild-growing clematis (also known as 'Old Man's Beard') and filled up a big bag. Using a chicken wire frame hung with strong, clear thread, you build the arrangement by threading the stems through the frame. Eventually, you'll create a full shape you're happy with. Where I found there were gaps, I filled them up with cut grasses from my garden.

I filmed the process and put together a quick floral cloud tutorial on IGTV if you want to create your own. Do it - the results are breath-taking!

A Sweet Table

Close-up image of glossy, deep wine red mulled poached pears ontop of a brown sugar pavlova for the Christmas table.

Baking is my go-to for comfort at this time of year. It's my way to unwind and spend time alone with my thoughts. I found a gorgeous Waitrose recipe for a brown sugar pavlova with hazelnut praline and poached pears. And my god it's incredible. Such an indulgent dessert, perfect for a Christmas celebration. From the spiced mulled pears and chewy meringue to the all-important sweet toasted nuts. This is the one.

I also tried my hand at a vanilla marshmallow recipe that I found via Benk and Bodega. Perfect for little snacks or to top hot chocolates and my daughter loved making these together. Check out their 'Advent' stories highlight for the recipe, written by Emma Cantlay at Mainly Breakfast.

Candles are the one thing I always buy new every year as we get through so many. These soy wax twisted candles are from Interlude Candles on Etsy. And I've created a brilliant sculptural candle edit if you're looking to up your candle game this winter.

So there we have it - my Nordic Christmas table for 2020. If this look doesn't float your boat, check out my gold and pine table garland and a moody, minimal festive style.

All that's left for me to do is to thank you for sticking with me throughout this crazy year. Wishing you a safe, warm and slow Christmas and I'll see you in 2021.

Tiff x.

Photography and styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley

[AD] Slow Moments with the Terra Planter Collection

[This is a paid partnership with Georg Jensen. Pieces from the Terra planter collection were loaned for the purpose].

When Georg Jensen announced the launch of the Terra planter collection, I was intrigued to see how the brand, known predominantly for their silverware heritage would interpret gardening accessories.

One of the best habits I developed about seven years ago was learning to care for houseplants. I find it really grounding taking a few slow moments every day to check on their well-being. I dust off their leaves, remove dead growth, water and repot as I potter around the house. Because it's important to get out of your own head sometimes, isn't it?

For modern home gardeners, the look of the pots is just as important. It's not easy to find elegant planters with a Scandinavian aesthetic. And may I just say, I absolutely love the new stainless steel reversible pots. These tick all the boxes for me!

The Terra planter collection is a collaboration between the Norwegian architecture and design house Snøhetta. This nine-piece series of indoor and outdoor pots come in Georg Jensen's signature mirror-polished steel and a new material, terracotta.

Inspired by organic forms, the steel planters can be used at either end. Their fluid, tapered shapes allow for greater space for roots at the base and stability in the stems towards the narrow end. I love how the super-reflective steel bounces light off the surface and emphasises the shape of the plant.

A sleek and functional watering can accompanies the collection, inspired by the flow of water. Its strong silhouette looks totally at home as part of a sculptural display when it's not being used.

Do you recognise the rubber tree? This magnificent plant has been a part of our home for seven years now and is possibly my greatest botanical achievement thus far! He's even been published in a few interiors books. The bay window is the only part of the house he's truly happy to be owing to the consistent light he needs to thrive.

The stainless steel watering globe gives a sculptural appeal to the pot and dispenses enough water over a 2-3 day period.

I hope you love this collection as much as I do. Have you found comfort in amongst your houseplants lately?

Styling and photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley.

Nordic Garden Style For Balconies and Indoors

How to bring Nordic garden style into your home when outdoor space isn't an option, with modern, sculptural pots and planters.

No garden space? No problem! Bring Nordic garden style into your home instead...

If lockdown is currently driving you stir-crazy, you'll know how much escaping outside is a total lifesaver. Just a few minutes of warm sun on your face and a gulp of fresh air makes all the difference to your mood.

Over the past month or so, our garden has stepped up to play an integral part of our day to day lives. Whereas before it was somewhere to do a spot of weeding and hang out the washing, now it's where I come to sit and be with the birds in the morning. It's a makeshift playing green for cobbled together P.E sessions for the kids. We watch the minibeasts hiding under rocks and leaves and share socially distanced conversations with neighbours over the fence.

Understandably, not everyone has access to a back garden but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a sense of the outdoors. Even from indoors. If your options are limited - perhaps you have a bijou (or sizeable) balcony or a corner of your home, let me paint you a picture and show you what you could have with a little imagination.

How To Create A Nordic Balcony Garden

The key to a Nordic-style balcony is to keep it simple, clean and contemporary. Stick to a muted colour palette - think black, grey, muddy greens, beige, and terracotta. Soften a boxy space with outdoor rugs, large cushions and planting.

Before you order any plants, check your balcony's climate. Is it mostly shady? Windy? Or does it get a huge amount of sun during the day? Pick your planting according to the conditions you have. Introduce a potted olive or fruit tree to add height if you can, with plants such as grasses, Fatsia Japonica and white blooms lending an architectural, contemporary feel.

Maximise all the available space and tailor it towards how you plan to use it. Don't just think conventionally with floor space but utilise the edges of the railings and the walls behind if you can. Hang and wall mount planters and grow vertically. Choose space-saving, multi-functional pieces that offer space for entertaining as well as potted plants. A favourite is the Fermob balcony table. Attaching to balcony railings, it's an ideal table for two with a sweet little planter on top. Consider the evenings too, when you'll likely need some soft lighting and a couple of warm blankets to see you through.

A Nordic garden style shopping page featuring the best contemporary Scandinavian furniture for small balcony spaces.

The black metal Mira chair designed for Skagerak, brings contemporary, Nordic style into our garden with modern shape and interesting shadow play.

How To Bring Nordic Garden Style Indoors

There's no greater way to calm your mind than tending to your plants at home. A little spritz here, a feed and prune there. Suddenly it's been half an hour and you're already feeling much lighter. Grow yourself an indoor garden space to escape to whenever you need a breather.

Don't ask me the science behind it, but somehow, tall, large scale plants such as the parlour palm or rubber tree give the illusion of more space and height. Their lush appearance is instantly calming and in the right pot will create a real statement. You could also try an olive tree for a more rustic Scandinavian look.

Windowsills are brilliant for smaller potted plants, propagating cuttings and herbs. Plant them up in individual, sculptural pots for a modern Scandinavian look and experiment with clear glass to show off their root systems.

Mini table-top terrarium gardens will give you a biophilic fix and clever self-growing herb gardens take the worry out of gardening for those with less time. Tools can be stylish too - I'm a sucker for a well-designed watering can with my favourite being the black iron can from Toast.

For the less green-fingered, ever-popular dried grasses and seedheads are easy to find online and look striking in a large black pot or vase. I love the way they add texture and interest into a room. And of course, a selection of soothing botanical art prints.

A Nordic garden style shopping page featuring botanical books and prints as well as modern, sculptural planters, vases and mini gardens.

For more Nordic garden style inspiration, check out Outdoor Furniture for a Modern Scandi Garden and my 'Out In The Garden' Pinterest board.

Images styled by Tiffany Grant-Riley.

The Lockdown Get-Down: An Uplifting Playlist to Boost Your Mood

These are unprecedented times. As I sit here typing in the sunroom, looking out at the garden now drenched in the early spring sun, for a minute I could almost imagine this was any other normal working day. And yet.

As the world struggles to cope, adjust and shift tactics as it fights Covid-19 over the coming months, we have to learn, to some extent, to let go of what we can't control.

The effects of this virus are far-reaching, not just to those directly affected but for businesses, employment, schools, social gatherings and beyond. But as daunting and restrictive as isolation feels, there's a huge amount of freedom to be found in it. How often do we imagine a time where we can stay at home and just be with our families? How often do we wish we had time to work on ourselves, learn something new, practise a skill or finish that book? Somehow, all that unnecessary daily noise and busyness falls away and reminds you of what really matters.

So, with that in mind, I want to keep the space here on Curate and Display a positive one. There will always be Nordic and contemporary interiors to keep you inspired. There will always be little postcards from our home and garden (even if my attentions are pulled away to keep the kids entertained from time to time).

And because I believe in the positive effects of music and the ability it has to improve your well-being and lift you out of a difficult headspace, I've created a new and uplifting playlist on Spotify. The Lockdown Get-Down is filled with two hours of high energy grooves to get you through the day. And if you're looking for something slightly calmer, you can explore my Slow Sounds Playlist series.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1p9EDekrX8Ab5dqRDx1W6i?si=jA98CobUTMG2PhikdfFMGA

Push back the furniture, turn up your speaker and get down with your bad selves.

My door is always open. Feel free to comment, email or connect over on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Take care. See you soon.

Tiff x

[AD] How To Make The Garden An Extension Of Your Home

*This post includes gifted product in collaboration with Skagerak Denmark.

I absolutely love this time of year, when the boundaries between our home and the garden become blurred. Even as we move away from summer now and can feel the seasons beginning to change again, the back door is always open and the garden feels more like a cosy outdoor living space.

As a sort of final salute to the balmy summer months, I'm sharing what I've learned so far about making the garden feel like an extension of your home. It's simple, easy things that can be applied to any space no matter the size or orientation.

Foldable Picnic table and Mira chairs bring contemporary minimal style into the garden.

Connect The Boundaries

Start with the garden in the same way you would the inside of your home and look at the bare bones. Before you think about plants, consider refreshing the surrounding boundaries, be it wood or metal fencing, brick or concrete walls. Replace any tatty areas if you can. Decide if you want to make an architectural feature of that wall or if you want to tone down the appearance of your fencing.

I'm a huge advocate of the transformative qualities of paint and I personally think black, an anthracite grey or a soft white work wonders as a way to zone and define your garden. You'll see I've carried the black through from the sunroom windows into the garden this way (I used Ronseal Duck's Back in Black). Although at first it might look dominating, black is actually brilliant for making boring fencing look less imposing. Once you add in planting, they'll slowly blend in.

Repeat Similar Colours Through Plants and Accessories

A clever way to strengthen the connection between house and garden is to continue your colour palette from indoors. Pick out similar shades and tones that you've used for your interiors and echo them in your plants, pots and accessories. This way, the boundaries between the two spaces are blurred and as a result, feel better connected when you look out of the window.

Delicate Guara 'Papilion' flowers bloom from summer to late autumn.

Our own home is fairly muted as colour goes but black features regularly as a contrast. I choose white flowering plants and touches of sepia and beige in a variety of ornamental grasses. I mix terracotta and grey pots to break up some of the black. These really stand out against the fencing which in turn create contrast and visual interest.

Scale and Texture

When an interior feels too flat it's probably because it's lacking the texture to give it depth. Remember that spending time in the garden is an experience for the sense - make your plants tactile, introduce scent and don't forget plants that will pick up the breeze for soothing sounds.

Choose a strong mix of large and small scale planting. Don't be afraid to try large-leaved plants such as fig, Musa Basjoo bananas and the prehistoric Gunnera against frondy, smaller foliage like grasses and bamboo.

If you're sticking to a minimal gardening scheme, be bold and go for one or two giant pots - I love the patina of corten steel pots, for example.

Play with different tones in foliage if colour isn't your thing, planting darkest greens against silvery whites.

Create Space For Relaxation

Our habits naturally change in summer when we finally have the freedom to spend more time out in the garden. We might decide to have our coffee outside in the early morning sun instead of on the sofa. An off-the-cuff dinner can be cooked alfresco and enjoyed well into the evening. Make your garden feel more inviting with outdoor furniture that compliments your tastes indoors.

The Skagerak Picnic table gives our mid-terrace garden and instant update.

The Mira chair in black powder-coated steel casts striking shadows through the mesh seat.

Before you start looking, think first how you want to use your garden. Do you want a permanent seating or dining area? Do you need space-saving furniture you can quickly fold away on your balcony? Once you've found the purpose, look to your furniture indoors to find a style that echos it.

As we use the garden as a family, sharing some of it with a not-so-attractive trampoline (!) we needed something functional that could be folded and stacked away to accommodate water fights, camping in the garden and the like. The Picnic table, designed by Herman Studio for Skagerak is perfect for that purpose. Based on a classic folding leaf table, it's made in a lightweight aluminium with a carry handle on top to move it as you wish. Stools from the same collection stack easily and look great indoors too when we need a few extra seats around the dining table. Designed by Mia Lagerman, the stackable Mira chairs (set to be a future Skagerak classic if you ask me) throw down stark and striking shadows through steel mesh seats.

Perfect for small spaces - the stackable Picnic stool designed by Herman Studio for Skagerak.

Layer The Light

Whether you use it to extend the amount of time you spend in the garden or simply to view it better from indoors, ambient lighting is essential. Outdoor lighting shows the garden from a completely different perspective at night and changes the way you experience it. Solar string lights are an update on a classic and you don't need to wire them into the mains to enjoy the warm glow in the evening.

Outdoor solar lights enhance the texture of ornamental grasses at night.

You can also use light to accentuate architectural details in your garden. Try solar spots dotted into your border to show off the shape of taller plants or bring a tree to life at night with subtle fairy lights. It can be a clever tool to show how to navigate through the garden at night, lighting your journey along the path to a lounge area as the destination. For more directional light when you're round the table together, use lanterns.

Grow Your Own

If you've yet to try growing your own, I highly recommend it. For one, the relaxation you get from sowing and nurturing plants is enough, but nothing beats the feeling of cooking and eating what you've grown. Using produce directly from the garden encourages you to head outside everyone once in a while and stay connected to the garden as it changes through the seasons.

You don't need huge amounts of space. A group of pots and a stretch of wall or trellis will allow you to grow vertically - great if you have a balcony. Pick easy to grow varieties of tomatoes, courgettes and berries to cultivate your own kitchen garden. Having a few well-stocked pots of herbs to hand by the back door is brilliant when you need a few sprigs for dinner too.

Keep a small kitchen garden with pots of herbs to hand at your back door.

A light grey Edge Pot designed by Stilleben for Skagerak holds a mix of white flowering Gaura, thyme and angelica.

There we have it - how to make the garden feel more like an extension of your home. Summer may be a little long in the tooth now, but these tips will give you a strong foundation to help you bring your indoor and outdoor spaces together, whatever the season.

Photography and Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley

A Secluded Stay In Vanellus At Elmley Nature Reserve

On the rare occasion that I have the chance to book a night away, I never think to look a mere 30-minute drive from our house. Living in Kent we're always spoilt by the close proximity of the countryside and coast, but picky as I am, I tend to find stylish stays a little wanting.And yet. A stay at Elmley Nature Reserve has been at the very top of my list for the longest time. I would hold on to it like a mantra, the idea of escaping and disappearing out into the yonder of its wilderness at times when life was getting a bit too much. Nothing but great swathes of open sky and marshes. What greater feeling than to steal yourself away in total seclusion and get back to basics?! So it was a wonderful surprise to receive the gift of a stay for my birthday from my sister and parents, who clearly know me too well.A completely off-grid experience in every sense of the word, Kingshill is a family run working farm which generates its own electricity. Nestled in the bosom of a 3,200-acre estate on an island in the Thames, you couldn't get any further away from the hustle and bustle of things even with Sheppey a stone's throw away. An ideal spot to take in the wildlife across Elmley, the farm is host to a cluster of self-contained shepherd's huts, designed and built by Plankbridge.Set further back from the other huts on the reserve in a space entirely all its own, we arrived at Vanellus. Oozing with modern rustic style with all mod-cons, I felt the tension lift instantly. With an irresistibly comfy kingsize bed looking out at a floor to ceiling view out of the marshes, you surrender yourself to the surroundings. The first thing that hits you is the sound, a symphony of marshland birds and lowing cattle across the field. It almost lulls you to sleep. Though that may be a challenge with views like this. You'll find yourself doing a lot of staring here. It's impossible not to. Had the morning been clearer the following day we'd have woken early to watch the sunrise. But there's always another time.Every square inch of the hut has been carefully considered - this is tiny house living but not a way that feels cramped or lacking. A sweet little dresser made from an old railway wagon creates a kitchen, folding chairs and a table give you a dining area when you need it and there's a fully functioning en-suite shower and toilet too. Hidden inside a small cupboard, we found a gas burner for making coffee with a larger hob out back for cooking meals alfresco and my favourite touch, a mini fridge which we stocked up with strawberries and prosecco.With a home cooked dinner being delivered to our hut later, we headed out to explore the reserve. There are miles of walking to be done with more time, taking you out to the Spitend Hide if you've got the determination to make the three-mile hike. The team at Elmley even keep a code protected treat box stocked with gin to celebrate when you reach the point, but it was enough for us to find the first hide and watch the avocets for a while. Maybe next time.I took my sketchbook with the hope of getting some practice in (I did) and loved being able to concentrate on just drawing for a while. During our stay, we spotted a number of peewits, goldfinches, falcons, egrets and hares. At sunset, as we sat watching the sky turn to candy pink by the firepit, a barn owl swooped past. I mean, wow.If this doesn't make you want to book a visit now, I don't know what will. And if you'd just like to soak up the atmosphere and walk the reserve, you can access the trails between 9am - 5pm (closed on Tuesdays). Elmley, we will be back, perhaps for a cozy winter stay.Elmley Nature Reserve, Elmley, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, ME12 3RW.

Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley

Spring Details In My Black and White Garden

I don't share enough of our black and white garden here - strange considering I'm almost more invested in it than our home renovations!After days of on-off torrential rain, there came a break on Friday. Enough to see the light pick up the intense new-green in the leaves and watch beads of water balance precariously on petals. Quick off the mark to grab my camera, I shot some details before the weather changed direction again.I didn't quite finish painting the fences last year, so I've been cracking on at any available opportunity. They were originally a scruffy green so I chose black to make them almost disappear. I've used Ronseal's Duck's Back and 5L tins are about £10 from B&Q at the moment. The black gives the plants a more contemporary backdrop as they change throughout the year. Far more striking, don't you think?The current layout is very typical of a terraced garden - think long stretch of lawn and borders around the edge. Nothing wrong with that, but you know me, I like to mix it up. Eventually, I'm envisaging a mostly white garden with a mix of prairie and tropical planting. A total oxymoron, I know, but I just love a lush mix of large scale, architectural foliage mixed in with delicate flowers and wispy grasses. I'm hugely inspired by Beth Chatto's dry garden which was created entirely from drought loving plants. Really worth a visit. I also really fell in love with the LAND collaboration at London Design Week last year. Ultimately, the plan is to reduce the amount of lawn, get in some hard landscaping and break up the linear, traditional layout.We've no plans for any major groundwork this year as the hallway is literally sucking the lives out of us but I'd love to know if you'd like to see more from our garden later in the year? Are you taking on any major gardening projects?

Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley.

6 Things I've Learnt About Slow Decorating

You know, it’s interesting how many readers and friends imagine us to be all done and dusted with our renovation project. Whatever happened to doing things slowly? Perceptions of the online world I’ve detailed here may well have filled in the gaps so you think that we’ve called in a skilled team of contractors and a massive budget to do the lot in one go. But. The fact remains, we’re a family of five (cat included) living on a modest income without the means (or desire) to move out for works to be done. Although it has crossed my mind on many occasion. Believe it or not, for the most part, we actually enjoy DIY and want to give ‘The Chatham House’ as we call it, the very best we can, respecting its history and in making it our home.

If I'm honest, this house we’ve called home for two years now was not initially on the cards for us. The initial plan was to look at buying a stop-gap to turn around within a year or two and move on. BUT then we found this one. And suddenly we were looking at staying put and pouring everything we had into it. A total curveball. With only three or four previous owners, we've been spoilt with a lot of original features. Along with that we also inherited a whole heap of bodge jobs that need picking apart. Buying a doer-upper has meant re-evaluating and taking a few deep breaths at the thought of all that plastering. It’s also slowed down the whole renovation/decoration process, which, as the least impatient human on this planet was no easy pill to swallow. This sounds like you too, right? What I will say is having that time on your hands is actually a massive gift. Here’s what I’ve learnt about slow decorating so far...

You Will Change Your Mind. A lot.

The most popular question I’m asked time and time again is “what advice would you give new homeowners?" Don’t act on impulse. Please. Do not pick up a paint chart, paintbrush or box of tiles until you’ve really spent some time in the house. Instead, wait. It’s boring, yes, frustrating, hell yes, but I can guarantee you’ll thank yourself in the long run. You might just save yourself from a rash decision or two. An example? We've lived with half raspberry pink, half gloss white anaglypta walls in our hallway for TWO YEARS. Why? Good question. Well, it's a very dark space so for one, I needed time to see how the light behaved at different times throughout the year to determine the right colour palette to use. I'm still not sure whether we ought to replace the ceiling lights with wall lights and we need to decide on how we're treating the stairs. Stripping it when we moved in would've meant living with some very crumbly old walls for quite so time which, in an already cold and drafty space wouldn't be the most sensible move. I've been such a good girl!

Useful pointers to consider before you start decorating:• Trends move quickly. Whatever you love now might not be top of your list in a year's time.• How will you use each room? Be realistic here - if you like the idea of a home office but know you'll end up at the dining table/sofa then use it as a guest room instead.• What works well for you now and what doesn't? Do you need to rethink storage? Do you need to update the heating and windows if it's a little on the draughty side?• Choose colour carefully. Paint looks completely different in a room depending on the time of day and which way it's facing, e.g. North facing light will be bluer and cool whilst South facing is warmer and most consistent during the main part of the day. Our bedroom faces North-East so I chose a warm beige paint to counteract the cold light and it reacts beautifully as the sun rises across one wall.• How do you want your home to feel and where will you start the process? You need to consider how you'll make the rest of the house connect with that room and feel like a coherent space.

Tackle One Project At A Time.

Renovating is stressful, there's no doubt about it. Even if you've got somewhere else to live while work is going on, you still have to relocate and manage the project in the meantime. Tackling one room/project at a time will minimise the upheaval and stress and give you the headspace to give it your full focus. When you've ticked that off, move on to the next room.

Establish A Strong Foundation.

Unless you're moving into a new build it's likely there's groundwork to do. I like to call them the boring necessities, things like:• Structural works - knocking through / relocating walls.• Rewiring and plumbing.• Plasterwork.• Replacing or strengthening floorboards. We did this in the bathroom just before Christmas when we realised our shower had completely rotted the joists underneath!Some pretty important jobs. These should come top of your list, ahead of the cosmetic stuff to avoid the unfortunate need to start from scratch.

Live In The Now

Holding onto those big “one day” plans are completely valid. We'd like to extend the kitchen and create another room in the loft at some point, but not for a few years yet. Don't feel that you can't make changes to make it your own in the meantime. That's why we decided to do a kitchen refresh so we could fully utilise the existing space and enjoy it for the time being. And honestly, crappy cupboard planning aside (thanks previous owners) I love it so much that I'd be quite happy if that extension didn't happen. Almost.

Is It Really You? Think It Through.

Take time when you're designing each room and don't be too quick to hop onto trends. It's great to draw inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram and glossy mags as a starting point. Step away before anxiety hits though. It's worth knowing that those images are shot for editorial purposes as an aspirational piece. I know because I've styled homes for magazines. I do it myself when I shoot - in reality, nobody wants to see the mess, they want to see something they can aspire to. You see the carefully considered image but what you don't see is what's going on behind the scenes, where we've moved other bits of furniture out of shot, rolled up a rug, decluttered those shelves.So be honest with yourself and create a space that speaks volumes about you. Revisit places you love and draw inspiration from them. Collect images that you connect with. Experiment with textures and materials. Can you see the furniture you already own working within your plans?

Agree Before You Start.

This one's for me really, because my default is to steam ahead without letting Rob in on the full picture. Yep, I hold my hands up. But then, he's the cautious one and I'm the reactive one...most of the time...and that's why we work. Plan as much as you can to the most minute of detail. Of course, leave some room for a little artistic license but I'm talking about agreeing on the work you'll be doing yourselves (and who) what you need to outsource and choosing the scheme together. Set out a clear timescale and try to stick to it as best you can. I'm going to try and detail this with you when we start the hallway later this month.

Enjoy The Journey

When you've stopped arguing, remember to enjoy the process. Every little change you make brings you a step closer to your vision. I'll never forget how different our bedroom and kitchen felt when we got rid of the orange pine floor. A new lease of life! There may be unforeseen circumstances along the way that need your attention (referring back to those foundation points) but with patience and focus you'll create a space you can be really proud of and pick up new skills along the way.

Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley featuring #TheChathamHouse.

Slow New Year Intentions In 2019

And just like that we're back and into a new year - Happy 2019 to you, lovely reader. How was your Christmas break - are you feeling rested and ready to crack on? Perhaps you're feeling apprehensive about what the coming year holds? I totally hear you.I deliberately took a longer break this time and I well and truly shut down. It seems I really needed it. The fact that I did not think about or lifted a finger to work is a testament to just how needed it was. I felt truly present with my family without keeping half an eye on my inbox. I used the camera not attached to my phone for a change when we went out for walks in the low winter sun.But. In the days following New Year's Eve, a creeping feeling of anxiety started to take over. I hadn't put 2018 to bed and set new goals for the year ahead. I ended up a crumpled mess, sat on the sofa in the dark, trying to pick apart the last ten years. Where was I going? What was the point? I've never been one for resolutions and I find the bombardment of 'New Year, New You' memes totally unrealistic and unattainable. So why was I worried that by not making plans I was setting myself up to fail? We're all just figuring it out as we go along, aren't we? The answer is that I didn't want to stand still, get left behind, to feel regret at not having tried that little bit harder.Here's the thing though. And I'm telling myself as much as I'm telling you. Success is relative. What's top of someone else's list might not even feature on yours. And I could go into the depths of how time is a man-made construct which only serves to create more pressure and anxiety...So let's look at it this way instead. Take a slower approach and give yourself permission to ditch the pressure. I'm a great believer in putting your intentions out there and being consistent - when the time is right things find a way to align. Whether you're into Oprah style visualisation boards or prefer to write down all those plans you have in mind, bring them into being. I'll share a few of mine:• To continue travelling. Scandinavia especially. It's likely I'm the only Nordic design writer who has never been to Scandinavia.• Crack on with #TheChathamHouse renovations. Hallway next - be gone pink walls!• Continue to develop my photography skills and get to grips with realistic rendering for interiors. That's a bit niche!• Take at least two family holidays this year. No point writing about slow living if I don't live it.• To take on new clients for home and property staging.• Continue running on my decrepit knees however short the distances!Keep on keeping on. Nothing will get you closer to where you want to be than just showing up every day and doing the work. It's as simple and frustratingly difficult as that. Good, old-fashioned graft. And sure, much of the year will be shrouded in mystery but being open to those unpredictable, left-field experiences are what makes being along for the ride exciting.And the photo above? It was a magical, misty moment I captured in the right place at the right time on a family walk at Bedgebury Pinetum. Had I not turned my head to look down this path, I'd have missed it.Happy New Year.Tiff x

Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley

Slow Sounds Soundtrack No3 Winter Playlist For Slow Living

And here it is, my last Slow Sounds playlist of the year and indeed the last post before everyone winds down for Christmas. I hope I've managed to catch you in time!I started this series to share how important I feel music is to the slow living lifestyle. And I don't just mean the tempo, but the ability music has to focus our thoughts, give us clarity or a chance for escapism. Food for the soul. You can listen to my Spring and Summer soundtracks to get a feel for the series which has naturally taken a seasonal direction. Perhaps I use colour next year?I've been sat at my desk under a blanket with moody, rainy afternoons to influence my choices this time. There's been much staring longingly at the empty fire grate (now swept and awaiting its first fire) so this begs to be listened to in a warm and cosy room. Aptly named for Winter, this is a playlist for reflection with songs chosen for their poetry and storytelling, centred around a feeling of home. What better time to look back on the year than now, with friends and family. Sit and acknowledge the good with the bad and make plans, not resolutions.Thank you, as always, for reading. I write for you, so if there's a certain interior design topic you'd like help with, please shout at me! I'll be back in January with my usual helping of Nordic design and hopefully some tentative next steps for the house. We can't look at the pink hallway any longer and the living and dining room need a great deal of TLC so...A Very Happy Christmas and New Year from me!Tiff xx#slowsoundsplaylist 

Laura Slater x The Plant Room LAND at LDF

One of the biggest highlights of my LDF experience this year was the LAND collaboration between textile designer Laura Slater and Zosia Berkieta-Lewis of The Plant Room. My photos really don't do it justice, but it was so beautiful that I have to show you.

Both based in Leeds, these two incredibly talented women came together with the support of a Kickstarter campaign. Bringing Laura’s bold, printed textiles and Zosia’s flair for botanical design, LAND showcased Slater’s new collection of the same name. Set amongst a prairie-style mini garden, the installation doubled up as an interactive experience promoting the restorative nature of plants. Visitors were invited to draw their observations in sketchbooks or to simply sit on custom made benches and drink in the calm.

A common thread running through LDF 2018, slow and restful spaces were an indication of society’s need for tranquillity amongst the pressures of everyday living. As an advocate for the benefits of slow living and the positive effects it can have on our mental health, I was so pleased to see this topic being explored in more depth this year this.

Inspired by a five-week residency at Cove Park, Scotland, Slater spent much of her time there exploring pattern. Her free-form drawings emerged as interpretations of the natural surroundings of the Rosneath Penninsula. The result of this became her LAND screen printed collection which can be seen hanging behind the garden.

Zosia’s own work involves designing botanical installations for various platforms - events, shops, workspaces. Her style is wild, expressive and textural. We talked about our mutual love for grasses and the Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf. If you're not familiar with his work, you must take a look.

When I got home, I was inspired to order more grasses for the garden. And I may have bought some of the black 'Monolith' fabric seen on the benches for our bedroom project too. Because it was just too perfect to pass up.

Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley 

Slow Sounds No 2 Summer Playlist

The Slow Sounds series is back with a summer playlist and with it my last post until September. Expect serious grooves, a strong British line-up (shout out to my girls LaSharVu and my daily obsession Tom Misch representing London) guitars to give you stanky face* and warm brass for balmy nights in the garden. These are the tracks we're playing on repeat in #thechathamhouse this summer and I hope you'll be doing the same.So what's my plan for the summer? Well, work on the bedroom is going ahead with a beautiful floor being laid, walls painted and all the small details which help to pull it all together. Look out for the moodboard in September before I feature the room in October. Track no.6 is going to help me push past those moments when I'm sick of the sight of paint!Track no.4 has a personal connection to it as Vula sang me down the aisle on our wedding day and blew the place apart with her band in the evening. Next month we celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary (how??!!!) and we'll be with the kids in Brussels for five days, returning to Antwerp and hopefully Ghent while we're there. I can't wait to get amongst the Flemish architecture again and I'm hoping to squeeze out a mini city guide once we're back if you're interested?Mostly though, I've worked to a point where I can actually take summer off, slow down and spend a few days meandering with the kids just following wherever the day decides to take us. Happy Days.Have a beautiful summer and see you on the other side...* Refers to the face you make which implies the music is giving you serious grooves but looks like you can smell something really bad.#slowsoundsplaylist

Slow Wanderings In A Dungeness Coastal Wilderness

The last time we made the trek out to Dungeness was New Year's Day, 2017. It was beyond cold, unforgiving and bleak with biting winds. So much so in fact that we ended up seeking refuge inside a steamy and warm cafe in Rye, though not before I braved it to get a few shots of The Retreat. We returned last weekend in warmer climes to explore further and lose ourselves for the day.If you've an unexplained hankering for desolate, post-apocalyptic landscapes as I do, I needn't have to explain too much as to why so many others are drawn to Dungeness. Aptly named The Fifth Continent, there is a real sense of resilience here, a place that feels so baron it's a wonder anything grows, but it does. Wildflowers push through the shingle defiantly and the heady coconut scent of gorse is everywhere. A landscape as flat as a pancake with nothing to see for miles but the coastline and scrubland, you'll find the power station, the two lighthouses (one of which you can climb for stunning views) and a hotch-potch of private homes. Dotted about the shingle beach are remains of derelict fisherman's shacks, sculpture-like rusting machinery and abandoned boats. If you want to find somewhere to get lost within yourself, this is the place to go.You wouldn't think that Dungeness could be a desirable location for architects, but the lure of this flat coastal setting has seen a number of contemporary, black and corroded steel builds rising up from the shingle. Built with sensitivity for the history of the area, they look very much as though they belong here. And what I wouldn't give to own one.

Design Stays In Dungeness

Some of the new architect designed builds are available to rent as holiday homes. This experience is as much about immersing yourself in the design of the place as much as it is the landscape...PS1 - a former WW2 fuel pumping station.The Shingle House - designed by Scottish studio NORD.The Retreat - an award-winning home with views across the English Channel.Coastguard Lookout - a converted 1950s coastguard tower.There are no formal boundaries marked by fencing as you would expect and with no defined gardens it can feel a little sneaky picking your way across the shingle beach, unsure as to what's private and what's not. The famous Prospect Cottage and garden of the late Derek Jarman seems to appear out from the landscape as if it had always been there, dotted with reclaimed beach treasures turned sculptures. The yellow framed windows of his weathered, black cottage make the gorse 'pop' and are a beacon for art and garden enthusiasts who make the pilgrimage here. This garden is constantly evolving, rather than a shrine and Derek's partner still lives here, changing the planting as the garden sees fit.I urge you to carve out some time to spend here this summer. It is a wilderness like no other.

Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley 

Small Space Summer Garden Inspiration At Granit

With the longer days here to stay a while and an abundance of plants to choose from, now is the perfect time to explore small space summer garden inspiration from Swedish store Granit.I'm a huge fan of Granit, a brand established by two friends back in 1996 who wanted to simplify their lives through a minimalist approach to functional homeware. You'll find baskets and crates, monochrome pots, furniture and finishing touches and with a focus on sustainable design in neutral colours.The SS18 lookbook is giving me hazy summer garden vibes and makes me want to take our sunroom to the next level. The vibrant greens in the plants do the talking in simple black and white concrete pots and there are lush hideaways in small corners...

A Balcony Oasis

Do you have a balcony? Well then I'm jealous. Proving that a lack of space doesn't mean you can't enjoy a garden, plants can be displayed on tiered trolleys and narrow benches. Find furniture with small footprints to raise up your pots. Choose tall, narrow plants for their height; ideal for balconies, potted up and placed into woven baskets for textural contrast. If you have a small section of wall, think about wall mounting planters or attaching a piece of metal gridding for a climber to make the most of.

Every Space Is A Garden Opportunity

If you don't have access to an outdoor garden or sturdy windowsill then look at what you have indoors. Find an area that receives good light and use this as your starting point. Think about levels - attach trailing hanging plants from the ceiling or an existing curtain rail if you don't trust your DIY skills. Don't be afraid of large-scale plants. Despite it being a small space, taller plants will actually make it feel bigger because they make use of the height of the room rather than width. A bamboo is ideal with narrow leaves and structural stems, as is a rubber tree or fiddle leaf fig if you're a dab hand with temperamental varieties. Utilise low-level stools for large single pots and shelves to display a selection.

Kitchen Garden

You can easily grow herbs from pots on a kitchen windowsill. Not only do they soften up the room but they're incredibly handy to have to hand and pinch off what you need as you cook. Some are easier to look after than others, but the Mediterranean varieties need very little attention to be happy. If there's a little more room, you could even try growing tomatoes. You will need to support the vines as they grow taller, but I have managed one or two plants from a medium-sized pot in a corner of the kitchen before.

Bring Summer Garden Style Indoors

Bring summer garden style into your home with natural accessories. Woven seagrass mats feel great underfoot and raw, slubby linen cushions give a relaxed feel. I love Granit's earthy, spicy palette of linens and their bamboo daybed, spot on for lazy afternoon lounging with a good read.Don't forget the dining table too. If you've space to, a single branch of olive or apple blossom looks great in a large glass vase, as do small pots and vases with little posies. Wreaths are popular all year round, hung nonchalantly from a chair back (as below) or hung on the wall. Try making your own from foraged branches and summer blooms and if we're walking scale, the bigger the better if you ask me.So now I've planted a few seeds for summer garden inspiration, it's your turn to put them into practice! One last tip from me? If in doubt, CRAM IT IN. I want to feel enveloped and cocooned by my garden, don't be afraid to layer up your canopy! And I'm sorry if my introduction to Granit will cause your bank account distress, particularly when I tell you that they ship to the EU...and for now that still includes us in the UK. Uh ohhh...

All imagery courtesy of © Granit with thanks. 

Swedish Linens Sheets For Clean Conscience Sleep

Whilst my two were away at their Grandparents over Easter, I took the opportunity to attack their room. You know, all the usual boring things you want to do when they’re here but find impossible - sorting through mountains of toys, cleaning snot marks off the wall, a really thorough vacuuming...

I've not bought any new bedding since we finished their bedroom as for the most part I don't want mountains of spares piling up in the airing cupboard. Ultimately though, we're making a conscious effort to use only what we need opting for slow fashion over the mass produced. When I got an email from Swedish textile designer Hannah Johnsén to tell me about her new venture, it was like hearing from a kindred spirit and I had to tell you about it. 

After studying in London, she began her journey designing knitwear but as a mother of two, it became more important to her to create a cosy environment for her family. With good quality sleep as her focus - and let's face it we all feel better for some decent sleep, she designed a collection of 100% organic percale sheets, made in Portugal with GOTS certified, ethically produced cotton. With every stage of the process scrutinised, all sheets are digitally printed, meaning less water usage and free of plastic packaging. Add to that a fun and playful collection of bold, graphic prints and Swedish Linens was born.

You can see how Hannah's Scandinavian roots have influenced her collection, particularly Lindbacken, named after a town close to her home of Uppsala with its rows of houses. My daughter made a beeline for the Minty Blue Penguins and she loves to count them at bedtime...which is more interesting than sheep I suppose! 

Sizes range from crib, single to double meaning they’re not just for kids in case you were wondering and I’m told a king size option will be available later in the year.

For an exclusive 15% discount, use the code curatedisplay15 at the checkout until 2nd May 2018. 

Photography & styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley

* Swedish Linens kindly gifted two sheets for the purpose of this post. 

Slow Sounds No 1 Spring Playlist

I know talking about the weather is one thing us Brits know how to do well, so I'm not sorry but please excuse me while I say my GOD that was the LONGEST winter we've had in a long time. Wow. And then this week, Spring broke in all its glory. I spent the last few afternoons digging out wider borders in the garden, planting banana trees and kicking about in my Birkenstocks (how I missed them so).So in celebration of ditching all those layers, in celebration of the longer days, brighter afternoons and sun-kissed evenings, I'm beginning a new series to accompany your slower days. Music is a big deal in our house. My husband is a musician, my father's side has a long legacy of some pretty pivotal Caribbean music, I'm a very rusty violinist and I used to sing Jazz and Blues before my self-awareness got the better of me. These days, I confine the vocals to the house, but it's a real release for me. The house is never quiet, just how I like it.Anyway - here's Slow Sounds No.1 - a playlist for Spring. A mix of contemporary jazz, soul and a touch of folk to listen to as the garden starts to wake up again. I hope you enjoy my carefully selected picks and that I've introduced you to a few new secrets of mine...#slowsoundsplaylist

Slow Rituals | A Mindful Approach To Houseplant Care

Plants have become an important part of my life these past few years. I wasn't instantly great with them, being used to gardening outside, houseplants were a whole different ballgame. There were a few casualties, and I learnt very quickly what my strengths were (let's say ferns aren't my strong point!) We now have around 50 established plants of various sizes and varieties and they're as much a part of our family as our kids. Well...almost.They anchor me, they are a reminder to look away from the stresses and trials from time to time and check in with them. They give me another focus for my thoughts - is it happy in that corner? does it need misting? Is it time for a bigger pot? Setting aside an hour a week of my time to give our plants attention is my way of slowing down, no matter what life is doing on either side of that pocket of time. And we know that slowing down doesn't just happen, it takes some planning as I detailed in this post, but with a few minutes care here and there during the week, you should start to feel a difference in yourself and see it through your plants.My mindful approach to houseplant care will not only put you on a path to finding time for a regular, slow ritual but should up your plant game in no time.

Checking In

Unless you're a seasoned hothouse orchid expert, most houseplants don't come with a huge list of demands. They're great at communicating and will throw out a few warnings when they're starting to feel unhappy. The best time to do this is the morning - maybe potter about the house with your cuppa. Take a moment to look at the leaves - are they vibrant, plump (if they're a cactus or succulent)? Or are they drying up, maybe changing colour? If it's the latter, it's either a case of over or under watering or the wrong amount of light. Depending on the plant, you'll want to check that it's in the right environment and getting the right amount of water, if not, make those changes.

Pruning

Not something you need to do often, but in the case of a rogue triffid, you might want to prune it back to avoid a take-over. I've just done this with a five-year-old cheese plant and it's perfectly happy, but I'd advise a little research first as not all plants like being trimmed. Be sure to remove any dead leaves to allow for new growth and use a sharp, gardener's knife or scissors for a clean cut. Cutting with anything blunt will encourage disease.

Propagating.

One of the best things about plants is that they give plenty back - literally. Some succulents and cacti produce offspring, attached to the 'parent' which can also be gently removed and propagated. I use a basic compost, mixed with a little sand for succulents and leave them to root, watering very occasionally. Some need to be laid directly onto the soil of the parent plant and left to dry out and grow roots which, once established, can be potted separately.Did you know that you can root some plant stems in just water? I've had some levels of success with a Monstera Deliciosa (cheese plant) and ZZ plant (Zamioculas Zamiflora) by cutting a mature stem at the base and leaving it in water, refreshing it regularly. After several weeks, you should see a root system start to form.

Feeding and Watering

During the winter, houseplants will slow down and go into a semi-hibernation. Don't give them any liquid feed at this time or water them too often. When spring comes around, they'll become active again and start growing which is when you can resume regular waterings with feed. I save our coffee grounds and dilute them as an occasional caffeinated feed for a pick-me-up too. Bear in mind, however, that some plants don't enjoy acidity which the coffee water creates, so keep an eye on the leaves in case they start to yellow.

Potting On

If it looks like your plant is running out of space to grow, it's likely it'll need potting on to a larger vessel. An easy way to tell is if the roots start pushing through the bottom of the pot or look coiled (pot-bound) when you lift it out. Don't attempt to do this until spring when the root system will be active and ready to spread into the new space.Don't be afraid to try living with plants - I meet so many people who say they wish they could be better at keeping them alive. There's really no magic to it, just a small amount of commitment and attention. Adopting a slow ritual in caring for your plants and the benefits they bring in return are so worth it.I'd love to hear about your experiences with houseplants. Have they helped you to switch off and slow down? Or maybe you're looking for a good starter plant and would like some tips?Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley 

5 Habits For Simpler Slower Family Life

The first post of 2018 and I'm starting your year the right way, sharing six easy to adopt habits for a simpler, slower pace of family life. Perhaps you're already missing that relaxed holiday bubble and are looking for ways to gain some of that back? Well, the good news is, you can.Let's be real about it though - for all the picturesque perfection that the slow living lifestyle portrays on social media and in the magazines we read; it's not possible to sustain that way of life on a daily basis, especially when there's an infinite amount of plates to spin. If only we could all spend all day lounging in trendy cafes nursing endless, artfully styled lattes or standing at the edge of a snow-topped mountain peak! Yet, with this culture of busyness we perpetuate, it's hardly surprising that we're yearning for a slower, less immediate pace of life. Is it any wonder so many of us struggle with our mental health when a full working calendar is seen as a virtue? And I can hold my hands up and say I was one of those people, who felt that telling anyone who would listen just how busy I was would somehow make me appear more important, more valued. Until that is, I got bored of hearing myself saying it, and others to me. I was stuck in a constant cycle of burn-out and, as a parent living with depression, I realised that I needed to break that cycle for me and my family. I don't want to teach my children that over-work and unhappiness is the norm.In the run-up to Christmas, I thought we might drown in a sea of commitments we'd given ourselves - both of us frantically trying to wrap up work for the year, the kids with their end of term parties and non-uniform days. It felt never-ending and the idea of a pressure-free break completely unattainable. If you're anything like us, living miles away from any close family members to give us both a break from time to time, the moments we do get to slow down are all the more precious. Life is an ebb and flow cycle with busier seasons and pockets of slow. Go with it. Try to carve out a little time each week if not at the end of each day and practice these simple tips we use...

Expect To Plan

It's not what you want to hear, but in order to slow down, you need to carve out the space to do so. Spontaneity takes planning when you're short on time.Gone are the days when we would spend all day in bed binging on episodes of Lost, leisurely grazing amongst the folds of the duvet. And wow do I miss those days...we're lucky to get five minutes to chuck down a coffee before something needs taking care of. It's the day to day stuff that takes up your time - the laundry, homework, remembering that the bathroom is sitting under several weeks of filth. As boring as it is, getting these things done and dusted means they're not on your mind imposing those guilty "I should be" thoughts on you. Be methodical and make a list of the most pressing and important tasks to be done - we use a large chalkboard in the hallway and the control freak in me gets real pleasure from ticking things off.  Anything non-essential can wait. We use Saturday as our getting s**t done day leaving Sunday free for whatever we please.

What is this life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare.No time to sit beneath the boughsAnd stare as long as sheep or cows.

- 'Leisure', WH Davies. 

Find A Project

Choosing a project to work on together is a great way to connect with each other and in turn, helps to shut out external distractions. I'm talking about our phones, the games console - anything that pulls our attention anyway from being present, in the moment. Doing something with your hands is a wonderfully therapeutic too. Use this as an opportunity to teach your children something new. It could be baking, building a Lego castle or working your way through Roald Dahl's collection at bedtime.Last summer, we grew courgettes, tomatoes and sunflowers from seed and my two took it in turns to feed and water the seedlings, monitoring their growth in the mornings. Ok, so they didn't eat any of the courgettes (unless I cleverly disguised them) but I loved seeing how excited they were to watch something they planted grow and bear fruit. The specifics of the project isn't important, it's the spending time together as a family that matters.

Eat Together

One of the most important things you can do as a family is to sit at the table to eat together. Even better if you can involve the kids in cooking a meal, I find mine are more likely to eat it if they've played a part in making it. I'm always so aware of my most-used sentences "we haven't got time" and "we're going to be late" and I don't want them to become ingrained in my children's memories of me, so I use mealtimes to counteract the rushing. Weekday breakfasts are typically a blur in favour of getting the school and nursery run done but dinner is the one time we all stop and talk about our day. At the weekend we make a thing of planning a special breakfast (usually pastries or I make pancakes) and indulge ourselves in a slow morning.

Focus Your Attention

When was the last time you really paid attention to your surroundings? Be mindful of the details around you as you go about your day together. Watch the birds visiting your garden, listen to vinyl instead of the TV. I realise that my two often try to talk to me when I'm distracted with other things, so I make a point to stop what I'm doing from time to time and give them my full attention. If you think about it, what's more annoying than someone not hearing you when you're talking to them?Take cues from your children - they're sticklers for noticing the little things. It might be watching bugs in the garden as my son can spend hours doing. My daughter likes to count the freckles on my face. She calls them "mops" (moles). I love her all the more when she does that.Adopting a daily ritual helps with this too. Mine is to make us a coffee with the stove top percolator after the school run. From grinding down the beans, packing it out, boiling the water and listening for the rush of pressure as it brews into the jug. I take my time, breathe in that fresh smell of coffee and anticipate a quiet ten minutes before starting the day at my desk.

Hold Space

Don't plan for everything. Term time is particularly manic, especially when your children have extra-curricular activities, so in a rare moment when there's nothing happening, don't force it to. Worrying that the kids might find themselves bored is far too easy a trap to fall into; let them be. Don't forget how important it is for children to be bored sometimes - they need to learn to find their own entertainment, to learn to use their imaginations, to create. Leave those pockets of free time open to spontaneity. This, in turn, will open up some space for you to have that coffee, read a few pages of the book you've been trying to finish for months. Time to breeeeeeeeathe.I hope this short guide has inspired you to embrace slow living family life and, if like me you're about to dive into the first term of the year, then I salute you. You've got this.

Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley, taken on our Christmas Eve 'blow the cobwebs away' walk.